New York, 15 Nov

Acceding to President Donald Trump’s demands, US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday ordered a federal investigation into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to Trump’s political opponents, including former President Bill Clinton. Bondi said on X that Manhattan US Attorney Jay Clayton would lead the probe, following the release of nearly 23,000 pages of Epstein-related documents by congressional Republicans.

Trump, who had longstanding ties with Epstein, did not clarify what alleged crimes he wanted examined. None of the individuals he named has been accused of misconduct by Epstein’s victims. Earlier in the day, Trump said he would ask Bondi, the Justice Department and the FBI to probe Epstein’s “relationship” with Clinton and other figures, including Larry Summers and Reid Hoffman, as well as JPMorgan Chase.

Big names in Epstein’s emails

Documents released this week include emails Epstein exchanged with prominent political, business and academic figures. Trump, Clinton, Summers and Hoffman were all referenced, but none of the material suggested wrongdoing on their part. Clinton has acknowledged travelling on Epstein’s jet but denied knowledge of his offences. Summers and Hoffman have expressed regret over their past associations with Epstein.

Hoffman said his few interactions with Epstein were related to MIT Media Lab fundraising and apologised for helping rehabilitate Epstein’s reputation. None of Epstein’s victims has accused Hoffman of misconduct. A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase did not immediately comment.

Bondi praised Clayton as a “capable and trusted prosecutor”, noting that the Justice Department would pursue the matter with “urgency and integrity.” Clayton previously led the SEC under Trump and now heads the same office that prosecuted Epstein and secured Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction.

Trump changes course on Epstein files

Trump has questioned the circumstances of Epstein’s death in jail in 2019 and previously suggested he would open government files on the case. His current shift — characterising the matter as a “Democrat hoax” — comes amid renewed scrutiny of his long-running friendship with Epstein.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee this week released three emails referencing Trump, including one in which Epstein claimed the president “knew about the girls” and another stating Trump had spent “hours” at his house with a trafficking victim. The emails provided no further detail. The White House accused Democrats of selectively leaking material to smear Trump.

Republicans subsequently released what they said were an additional 20,000 pages of documents from Epstein’s estate. Many emails showed Epstein maintaining contact with business and academic leaders, including Summers and Hoffman, years after his 2008 conviction. Other exchanges revealed Epstein discussing political developments, media narratives and personal matters with associates.

One email showed Epstein advising Summers on a personal issue, saying: “You care very much for this person. You might want to demonstrate that.” Another exchange with Hoffman in 2015 included friendly remarks about Hoffman’s diet programme and plans to meet.